Starting September, 2023, organics waste limits are changing:

Kitchen waste: one container per week
Yard waste: three containers or bags per week

Unused food and other organic refuse is not permitted in our garbage. Food scraps (raw food, plate scrapings, leftovers, depackaged food, meat, etc.) need to be separated from the regular garbage. Please see below for a list of things you can and cannot put into your organics bin.

We encourage residents to compost their yard waste for garden reuse, instead of using curbside collection.

Organics are picked up every Wednesday. Each residential property can put out up to six cans, bags or bundles of organic refuse or yard trimmings.

Starting September 1, 2023, this will change to one container of kitchen waste and three cans, bags or bundles of organic refuse or yard trimmings.

How to make your garbage and organics bins less attractive to animals

Compostable plastic bin liners

Bowen Island residents can use compostable plastic bin liners that are marked with the code ASTM D6400 in the organics bin.

Yard waste

Yard trimmings are collected with organics every Wednesday. These can be put into yard waste bags or other containers that are clearly labelled. Yard Trimmings labels are available from Bowen Waste Solutions. Sticks should be tied into bundles.

Each residential property can put out up to six cans, bags or bundles of organic refuse or yard trimmings. Starting September 1, 2023 this will change to three cans, bags or bundles (not including one container of kitchen waste).

Each bag or bin should not exceed 18kg (40lbs) as this can lead to workplace injuries.

Sod, soil and rocks do not belong in your yard waste. They are heavy, and do not break down in composters.

  • meat and bones
  • fish and shellfish
  • grains and pasta
  • dairy products
  • eggs and shells
  • cardboard egg cartons
  • plate scrapings
  • fruit and vegetables
  • food-soiled paper (not wax-lined)
  • pizza boxes and paper plates
  • popsicle sticks, chopsticks, small wooden utensils, toothpicks
  • small quantities of fats and oils (soak into used paper towels or newspaper)
  • houseplants without soil
  • wood chips, sawdust from untreated wood, cold wood ashes (in paper bags)
  • leaves and grass clippings
  • yard trimmings

Questions? Please contact Bowen Waste at 604-947-2255.

  • plastic (compostable plastic bin liners labelled with code ASTM D6400 are permitted)
  • paper coffee cups or beverage containers
  • metal, rubber or glass
  • diapers and baby wipes
  • pet waste or kitty litter
  • sod
  • soil
  • rocks

Questions? Please contact Bowen Waste at 604-947-2255.